Internally applied, expanding, pivoted jaw wrench



Feb. 20, 1951 o, sc up c 2,542,713

INTERNALLY APPLIED, EXPANDING, PIVOTED JAW WRENCH Filed NOV. 7, 1947 INVENTOR,

O. TSchupbach MMMM ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 20, 1951 INTERNALLY APPLIED, EXPANDING, PIVOTED JAW WRENCH Oran T. Schupbach, Marathon, Tex.

Application November 7, 194 7, SerialNo. 784 615 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a tool for removing broken pipes from fittings where the pipe is broken so an ordinary wrench cannot be used on its exterior surface. More particularl'yQthe invention relates to an adjustable tool which will remove pipes of varying. sizes from fittings by engaging the interior surfaces of the broken pipes.

The problemof removing broken pipe from fittings has for a long time puzzled men in the pipe fitting trades. This problem. is particularly acute in cases of. underground pipe. For example, when one pipe going into a standard. T- connection is broken off within. the fitting, it is necessary to remove the broken. pipe from the fitting. before a new pipe may be inserted. Unless a tool will fit within the pipe to remove it, it is necessary to out one of: the other pipes in order toremove the T-connection. Where the pipes are underground, it is necessary to excavate around the entire fitting and connecting pipes.

It is the major object of. this invention to provide a tool which will facilitate the removal of broken pipesfrom pipe fittings.

Another object of the: invention is to provide a tool which may be inserted into a pipe for engaging. its interior surface to remove it from a fitting.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a tool for engaging the interior of broken pipes and which will accommodate a variety of different sized pipes, Y

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tool for removing broken ends of pipes from a fitting without the necessity of removing the fitting from other pipes.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from thefollowing specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein Figure l is a front elevational view of a pipe removing tool' embodying the invention in its preferred form;

Fig. 2 is a side: elevation of the tool shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a view showing the tool in position for removing a broken pipefrom a T-conne'ction.

According to the invention in its preferred .form, the tool has a main body portion pro vided with substantially fiat sides tapering to; ward each other at one end to form a fulcrum about which a pair of gripping arms may be rocked. The ends of the gripping. arms project' ing' beyond the tapered end of the tool are pro-" terior surface of a broken pipe.

2. vided with members for engaging the interior surface of a pipe. Bolts holding the arms on the body portion may be adjusted to tighten the arms toward each other therebyforcing the gripping members apart in a manner to engage the interior of a pipe.

Referring now to the drawing, the tool is shown as provided with a body portion ll having substantially flat sides l2 and I3. As shown, these sides are substantially parallel throughout most of the length of the body It and. are tapered toward each other, as shown. at M, l5, near one end of the body portion. 1 IT. For. purposes which will hereinafter be explained, the surfaces 13 and I34 are preferably slightly convex and meet to form a point H5 at the end of the tool.

A pair of gripping arms [1 and I8 are arranged on the fiat surfaces I-Z- and i3. The gripping arms I! and I8 have their ends 19 and 2! extending beyond the tapered portion of the body I l and formed with gripping members 22- and 23. These members may be curved outwardly away from the body portion II and provided with a series of gripping teeth- 24 for engaging the in- To provide for a greater gripping area, the teeth 24 may be formed on a curved area of the gripping members 2'2 and 23 so they will more or less correspond to the interior COIliJ'OLlLOf the broken pipe.

A bolt 25 extends through holes 2:! and 28 near the middle portion of the gripping arms I! and I3 and a corresponding hole 29 formed in the body portion H near its tapered end. This bolt 26 is provided with. a nut 31- which is shown in the drawing as having a cylindrical exterior V which may be turned either by hand or by a Stillsonwrenoh. Another bolt 32' extends through holes 33 and 34' formed: near the ends of the gripping arms I! and I8 opposite to the ends having gripping members 22" and 23. This bolt also extends through a; hole 3-5 in the body portion near its untapered end. The belt 32 is: provided with a nut 36' which maybe tightened to tighten the gripping arms- I1 and [8 toward the body portion 1 I. This turns the arms about the fulcrum formed by the tapered portion of the body and thereby forces the gripping members 22 and 23 apart so they will engage the interior surface of a broken pipe. The bolt 31 is threaded in the gripping arm 5! near the gripping member 22 and has an end 38 for engaging the gripping arm near the gripping member 23'. This bolt is provided with a notched head as so it may beturned by a screw driver;

In order to turn the tool by hand after it has been inserted in a broken pipe a handle 4| is carried in the untapered end of the body portion I l and extends transversely thereof.

For a description of the operation of the tool, reference may be had to Fig. 3, which shows a standard T-connection 42 by which a pipe may be connected into a main pipe line'represented by sections of pipe 43 and 44, which are threaded into opposite ends of the top portion of the T- connection. The branch line is shown in this case as a broken pipe 45 threaded into the side fitting 46 of the T-connection.

Unless the broken pipe 45 can be removed by a tool gripping its internal surface, it is necessary to remove the entire fitting 42. Particularly in the case of buried pipe lines, it is impossible to turn either the pipes 43 or 44. Therefore, it is necessary to cut one of them before the connection 42 could be removed. Thus, two operations are required to rethread the ends of both the originally broken pipe and the pipe which is cut to remove the T-connection. This, of course, practically doubles the work which is necessary when the broken pipe can be removed by use of the present invention without disconnecting the fitting.

To remove the broken pipe 46 by using a tool embodying the present invention, the bolt 3! is unscrewed with respect to the gripping arm 1?, thereby permitting the gripping members 22 and 23 to move toward each other. The nuts 31 and 36 must, of course, be loosened on the bolts 26 and 32, respectively. With the nuts thus loosened, the gripping arms 18 may be rocked about the fulcrum formed by the tapered surfaces 14 and 15 of the body portion H. If the bolts are sufficiently loose, the arms I! and I8 may be moved until their gripping members 22 and 23 engage each other. The arms are adjusted until the gripping members 22 and 23 loosely engage the interior surface of the broken pipe 45 then the nuts 3! and 36, as well as the bolt 31, are tightened. Tightening of the nut 36 draws the gripping arms I! and I8 toward each other thereby forcing the teeth 24 on the gripping'members 22 and 23 into engagement with the interior surface of the broken pipe 45. The arrangement of the gripping members I1 and I8 on the flat tapered surfaces provides a sturdy base against which they ma be drawn by the nuts 3| and 35. When the tool is in position, and the nuts are tightened, the handle 4| may be turned to unscrew the broken pipe 45 from its fitting 56. It is then, of course, a simple matter for a pipe fitter to replace the broken portion of the pipe.

As mentioned, this tool'is' particularly useful for underground pipe such as those used in oil fields. However, it is equally adaptable to light pipe fittings such as city and household plumbing.

The foregoing description and the accompanying drawing illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention. It is contemplated that the particular construction may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A tool for removing broken pipe from pipe fittings comprising a body portion having a tapered end, a pair of gripping arms having their sides engaging opposite sides of said body portion, means securing saidarms to said body and permitting said arms to rock about said tapered end, said arms having outwardly extending gripping ends adapted to be inserted-into 4 and grip the interior surface of a pipe, and means at the other ends of said arms for tightening said other ends toward said body portion.

2. A tool for removing broken pipe from pipe fittings comprising a body portion having a tapered end, a pair of gripping arms having their sides engaging opposite sides of said body portion, means securing said arms to said body and permitting said arms to rock about said tapered end, said arms having outwardly projecting gripping members extending beyond said tapered end of the body portion and adapted to be inserted into and grip the interior surface of a pipe, and means at the other ends of said arms for tightening them toward said body portion to force said gripping members into engagement with the interior of a pipe.

A 3. A tool for removing broken pipe from pipe fittings comprising an elongated body portion having fiat sides tapering at one end toward each other, a pair of gripping arms each having an outwardly extending end adapted to fit within and grip the interior surface of a pipe, one of said gripping arms being carried on each of said opposite sides, and a bolt extending through holes formed near the other ends of said arms and a hole in said body portion for tightening said other ends toward said body portion to force the gripping ends into engagement with the interior surface of a pipe.

4. A tool for removing broken pipe from pipe fittings comprising an elongated body portion having fiat sides tapering toward each other at one end, a pair of gripping arms each having an outwardly extending end adapted to fit within and grip the interior of a pipe, one of said gripping arms being carried on each of said sides, a bolt extending through holes formed in the middle portions of said arms and a hole formed in said body portion near said tapered end, and a bolt extending through holes formed near the other ends of said arms and a hole near the other end of said body portion for tightening said arms to force the gripping ends into engagement with the interior surface of a pipe.

5. A tool for removing broken pipe from'pipe fittings comprising a body'portion having opposite, flat sides, a pair of gripping arms carried on said sides, said sides being tapered toward each other near one end of said body portion to form a fulcrum about which said arms may turn, means securing said arms to said bod and permitting turning. movements of the arms on said tapered sides, said arms having outwardly projecting gripping members extending beyond the tapered end of said body portion for engaging the interior surface of a pipe, and means for tighteningsaid armstoward said body portion to force said gripping members intoengagement with the interior surface of a pipe.

6. A tool for removing broken pipe from pipe fittings comprising a body portion having opposite, fiat sides, a pair of gripping arms carried on said sides, said sides being tapered toward each other near one end of said body portion to form a-fulcrum about which said arms may turn, said arms having outwardly projecting gripping members extending beyond the tapered end of said body portion for engaging the interior surface of a pipe, a bolt extending through holes formed in the central portions of said arms and a hole near the tapered end of said body portion, and a bolt extending through holes near the opposite ends of said arms and the other end of saidbody portion for tightening said other ends of the arms toward said body portion to force said gripping members into engagement with the interior surface of a pipe. y

'7. A tool for removing broken pipe from pipe fittings comprising a body portion having opposite, fiat sides, a pair of gripping arms carried on said sides, said sides being tapered toward each other near one end of said body portion to form a fulcrum about which said arms may turn, said arms having outwardly projecting gripping members extending beyond the tapered end of said body portion for engaging the interior surface of a pipe, a bolt extending through holes formed in the central portions of said arms and a hole near the tapered end of said body portion, a bolt extending through holes near the opposite ends of said arms and the other end of said body portion for tightening said other ends of the arms toward said body portion to force said gripping members into engagement with the interior surface of a pipe, and a bolt threaded in one of said arms near the gripping memher for engagement with the other arm to spread said gripping members.

" ORAN T. SCHUPBACH.

REFERENCES CITED Thepfollowing references are of record in the 

